Carl-Bear observes what he thinks may be a new trend: stockpiling building materials. He’s not sure whether this is a real thing (your opinions requested). But if it is, he’s pretty sure it’s an ominous one.
I was just about to write one of my long, rambly posts about having too much freaking stuff! Among other things, I’m tripping over the boxes of flooring sitting next to the kitchen table. And there’s an old door rescued from a Craftsman house lying smack across the center of the storeroom. The shed in my yard does contain several rolls of tarpaper. Not hoarding, though. I have Actual Uses for these things as soon as I can pull together the time and money. I expect others hereabouts could say the same
But if others are stocking up on 2x4s, insulation, and nails with no near-future plans for such, what do you think’s going on?
Woman dies from her hoarding habit:
http://www.modvive.com/2014/06/17/connecticut-woman-buried-alive-weight-possessions/
Of course, she’s not the first.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/collyer-brothers-brownstone-gallery-1.1187698?pmSlide=1.1187677
Hey, the Collyers even have a Wikipedia entry.
Maybe I should restack my cinder block collection. There’s some space by my supply of overage dynamite…
If you have a project you know you want to complete, have some of the money now, don’t trust the banks/Fed, and have a place to store it, I say go for it. I’ve considered doing the same thing.
I can confirm there seems to be a sudden odd hoarding of building materials going on all of a sudden. It’s been very profitable for us freelancing gypsies out here, especially if we don’t mind hauling heavy stuff and have a gift for cramming, uh organizing. Emphasis on wood (all kinds and sizes), nails and screws mostly but wire (chicken and hardware cloth) is running a serious second choice.
I thought I missed the latest “the world is ending” memo or something. And it’s nice to know it’s not just my imagination, either. Or just my pocket of the world that has this sudden urge.
I’m not saying this is a thing, because I don’t know. (Though if any of you out there are tired of dealing with those nasty building materials you’ve been hoarding, I will generously take them off your hands.)
But by complete coincidence, mere moments after reading Claire’s post I ran into this one…
” Baring a miracle, I don’t see a way out for us. No, I’m not panicking this weekend. But I wouldn’t wait much longer than that. I’m accelerating my lumber, insulation, metal sheeting, water tank and solar panel purchases for execution the next two months or so. I’ve already pared down my excess bank account amount and turned it into surplus Russian ammo for my Enfield reloading ( and just in the nick of time ). I’m NOT waiting around hoping the collapse gets another “can kicked down the road”. “
So maybe building materials are a hot prepper item right now.
Yikes, Joel and naturegirl. So — for some folks, at least — it really is a thing.
Joel, could you give the link for that text?
Looks like Joel’s quote came from Bison Prepper.
Oops, sorry. Tried to get cute and blew the link.
I’ve heard the old “buy stuff you would buy with gold rather than buying gold”, but I think you can go overboard with that. The whole point of a medium of exchange is that you can tailor your purchases to your needs. Who really needs a stack of plywood anyway?
I have a pole building on my property and I tend to keep stuff rather than tossing it (like an old farmer) and when we bought the place there were piles of wood here and there from the previous owner, and plenty of old hardware. Yet when I need to work on something or repair it, I rarely use what is around and just buy new, unless I need a piece of 2×6 which is here in abundance.
I’d say get a reasonable amount of long-term storage food, and a few other things you use a lot of, and then get lots of 9mm or .223 or .308 ammo or loading components for those. And lots of .22LR (if it ever gets reasonable again). I bet ammo or components will be the new cash for a while until the revolution is done and for some time after, along with gold and silver. Forget the stacks of plywood. OK, maybe a few boxes of 12 and 14 guage copper wire but that can be both used and traded easily. But 20 boxes of it? I don’t know. Anyway during hard times the last thing that is going to be needed is building material because the demand for that stuff will drop precipitously since no new houses will be built. It sounds like a poor investment to me.
Maybe I should start asking these people why we’re hauling and cramming all this stuff, LOL….It’s not all rural, either, there’s quite a few 2 car garages in a reasonably sized city that there’s no room to walk around in, let alone park a car in (or set up a shop for that matter)…..not a hurricane or flood zone, although there are a few quakes now and then (nothing like CA)…it is a wildfire area but some of that would just be added fuel in that situation….the people do look like prepper types…..
If I ever run into a clean-out building materials situation, I’ll keep Joel in mind.
Turns out some people may not have a choice. Some people may have stock up on supplies only to find they aren’t being allowed to re-build. Thereby losing valuable building time during the summer. Even for people trying to re-build their lives and have a primary home in the area. There are people thinking this was done so some people won’t have their own summer “ruined”.
http://www.my9nj.com/story/25797564/looks-like-shore-towns-must-halt-the-hammers
Claire – might want to take a look from someone who has been “there”:
http://accordingtohoyt.com/2014/06/15/assume-the-crash-position/
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Minion#1 who manages the outdoor section of a large Constructiony Box Store reports that sales are way down in the “Oh Pretty” section and way up in the “I’m gonna’ eat you” section. Building Section had to add about 50% staff over last year.
Either people just got all hands-on or the word is out that these will either be more expensive really soon or not available.
I guess I could be considered one of those hoarders, learned if from my father. We own rental property and buy repair items for the property and store it until need. The local area is notorious for not having what is needed. The price of building materials also continues to rise, so if you want some it is cheaper to buy now than later. Fuel costs are going up and during even a small breakdown in order deliveries might not be made. It is good to have items to repair bullet holes etc before the officials take notice too. I would suppose in some areas plywood is being bought for window shutters etc in case of hurricane, winds etc. Yes, it would seem to be a weird trend, but there are lots of reasons for it than just waiting for the collapse. But, after the collapse, getting home repair components will probably be difficult. Harvesting parts from abandoned houses would also be a dangerous option in many areas.
I have been keeping a supply of hardware including nails screws mall handles stove pipe saw chain and a little lumber for years. For one thing it is forty miles to the nearest full service lumber yard and they are small. Also I stock up on some of these items either mail order or in the big city (250 miles away). Since the whole state is at the end of the supply chain a ton of gold might not buy needed items in a SHTF situation.
Howard
I forgot to mention that the state at the end of the supply chain is Alaska.
Anyway during hard times the last thing that is going to be needed is building material because the demand for that stuff will drop precipitously since no new houses will be built. It sounds like a poor investment to me.
IMHO most of the people stockpiling plywood, etc. aren’t thinking “trade goods” or “investment.” They’re thinking “when the in-laws show up* and we have to expand the house…” or “when we have to bury the invaders and fix the door” or “when we need to fortify” or “when we need expanded storage for the stuff we’ve scrounged/traded for” etc.
* Yeah, you can turn away the in-laws, and their kids, in theory. Don’t plan on sleeping afterward.
Turn away the in-laws, but take their kids? I could sleep with that. Who needs a bunch of worthless adults running around, trying to take over your operation and steer it in directions you don’t want it to go?
If people want to stay with you, first you need to determine if they are going to help or hurt overall. Tell the latter to take a hike. Then you need to tell them, “You can sleep in the barn.” Or something along that line. It’s one thing to begrudingly take them in, another for them to become a burden on you. Let them figure out their own living arrangements. It will be good for their self-respect if they figure out how to care for themselves.
The first thing govco is going to do in SHTF is declare “hoarding” a crime. You will have a hard enough time keeping your supplies out of the government looters’ hands, never mind dealing with worthless relatives.
Turn away the in-laws, but take their kids? I could sleep with that.
I should have been more explicit. I was referring to sleeping beside the spouse the in-laws are attached to.
I have been “stock piling” some building materials. I am a licensed contractor, and try to buy things I will use, when there is a good sale price. But I have also bought and stashed things like stove pipe, a wood burning stove, chain saw oil, chains, etc.
My thought is, if the “end of the world as we know it” happens suddenly, I will need to be able to cook and keep warm.
I also have “plans” to build a house, which will have wood burning stoves, etc (that’s why I haven’t installed it in this house). Also this house is not where we would bug out to.
So yes, I am stock piling building materials for several reasons. One I use them in my work, and I like to buy things while they are on sale, and charge my customer full retail. It’s a way to turn a quick buck, and not rip anyone off. But I also have the things on hand which would be needed to survive (heat (I live in Minnesota), and a way to cook food – I do like a warm meal), I also have boards etc, to block up the lower windows, to keep “unwanteds ” out.
Thank you, Bear, for the input and explanation.
I should also note for the sake of everybody’s clarity that the Bear who just posted about his stockpiling of building materials is a different Bear than Carl-Bear (whose article I linked and who also comments here under the name “Bear.”)